Posted on 10/13/2006 1:06:45 PM PDT by NZerFromHK
New Zealand’s environment is at the core of our quality of life, our national identity and our competitive advantage, yet it is not being well managed. New leadership and direction are needed.
The National Party is determined to sustainably develop New Zealand so as to deliver both a strong economy and high environmental standards.
We have produced a substantive environment discussion paper containing our vision for tackling New Zealand’s environment issues. I encourage you to download this document from our website or get a copy from your local National MP so you can read the full range of our proposals.
National welcomes your feedback on these bold ideas as we put together a forward looking plan for New Zealand.
The Problems
· NZ’s Greenhouse Gas emissions are soaring, increasing three times faster than Australia and four times faster than the US.
· 229 new pests and weeds have breached our borders in the last five years.
· NZ’s exotic forest estate in 2005 shrank for the first time in decades.
· 970 New Zealanders die each year from the effects of air pollution.
· Many lakes, rivers and streams are deteriorating from pollution and excessive extraction.
· Government is still allowing clear-felling of native forests.
Our proposals
Climate Change
Emissions from electricity generation should be capped and any new emissions must be offset by forest planting.
Water
National standards and a transferable water permit system are needed to ensure our rivers, lakes and streams are swimmable and fishable.
Waste
A national system for coloured recycling bins, and financial incentives to reduce waste are needed to encourage recycling.
Forestry
Unsustainable forestry should be stopped and imported wood should only come from sustainably managed forests.
New National Parks
A new Kauri National Park in Northland, including Tane Mahuta, and a Waitakere National Park in Auckland should be established.
Healthy Air
Car emissions standards should be tightened and financial assistance provided to help households switch to clean heating.
Outdoor Recreation
Hunters and fishers should have more say in managing their recreation and 25 new campgrounds should be established on public land.
Nature Conservation
Backing community conservation efforts like the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary will help us save New Zealand’s unique native species.
Biosecurity
Visitors who deliberately breach our biosecurity laws should face immediate deportation and the instant fines increased for illegally importing meat, fruit, seeds and dairy products.
In fact, National's policy is no different from the US Democrats. Read carefully - it is in the form of bureaucracy and more regulations, and all based on the postmodern self-loathing philosophy of "humans are the sole destroyer of the world".
As Mark Steyn says, a scoeity can't sustain itself even with the most advanced economy if its citizens don't have confidence in its own culture i.e. free market by itself can't save a nation.
http://www.workpermit.com/australia/skills_shortage_list.htm
maybe this site will help?
970 New Zealanders die each year from the effects of air pollution.
Thanks for the ping!
,,, New Zealand is being sucked in by environmental religious fundamentalists. How they come up with 970 deaths a year, I don't know. Last year it was over 400. How they can tell - who knows? They're doing nothing about the 500+ suicides each year.
,,, the Kyoto Protocol can be blamed for that.
,,, and yet we're running a $NZ10b government surplus.
,,, neat-o mosquito!!! More bureacracy!!!
,,, it's going to be a long time before anyone chokes on exhaust fumes on Lambton Quay. Vehicle manufacturers win again.
I just knew you'd have fun on this thread......LOL! Thanks for the info.
With NZ being basically a large island, I can't for the life of me figure how so called air pollution can even figure into any death equation. Here in S.E. Michigan we have occasional "ozone action days" where we are told not to bar-b-q but since this is the flatlands of Michigan and the winds blow west to east, how is there any pollution to be concerned about?
The media reports the alert and the people are silent. Myself, I choose those days to do my cooking outside........
Believe it or not, there are places in the so-called clean and green New Zealand that have serious air pollutions. I think Auckland does, and Christchurch has quite severe air pollutions during winters. Over here in the Canterbury region it is surrounded on two sides by mountains thus not much wind year round. Coupled with people who burn (bad quality) wood for heating in winters, and the result is whole landscape literally engulfed by smog every early evening in June or July.
Not to make light of your concerns but i grew up in northern michigan at a time when fireplaces, leaf burnings and wood stoves were commonplace. I survived and now miss those favorite fall/winter odors...........
,,, two months out of twelve isn't a reason to kneel to the east and bow down to the god of the environment, is it? Why not opt for clean nuclear power and everyone can win? Oh, hold on... it's New Zealand. A few shouting "no" win every time. How about a referendum on the nuclear issue? Wait for it... "no".
This is the People's Republic of Canterbury. We have some of the most fossilized bureaucrats in the Waimakariri region, and some of the most doctrinally leftist population in Christchurch.
Auckland and Wellington are similarly controlled by leftist sheeples.
,,, what hope's left when you take Dunedin's tartan mafia into the mix?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.